Method and system for maintaining login preference information of users in a network-based transaction facility

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to various aspects for maintaining and utilizing login preference information of users of a network-based transaction facility. In one embodiment, user interface information is communicated to a client via a communications network. The user interface information includes information concerning a plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility. The user interface information also specifies a login interface that facilitates user input of login preference information pertaining to each of the plurality of features. Further, the login preference information is received from the client via the communications network and utilized to control user access to any of the plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility via the communications network.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of access restriction and, more specifically, to the maintaining login preference information of users in a network-based transaction facility such as, for example, an Internet-based auction facility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A network-based transaction facility (e.g., a business-to-business, business-to-consumer and consumer-to-consumer Internet marketplace and retailer) may offer its users a variety of features. For instance, an Internet-based auction facility may provide such features as bidding, listing, feedback, chatting, etc. Typically, users of a network-based transaction facility must enter their user identifier (user id) and password every time they perform any significant activity within the transaction facility. For example, in an auction facility, a user is required to enter his or her user id and password each time the user wishes to access a bidding feature, a listing feature, a feedback feature, or any other feature provided by the auction facility. Requiring a user to enter his or her user id and password multiple times during the user session within a transaction facility causes inconvenience to the user and destructs the user's attention from the online activity being performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to various aspects for maintaining and utilizing login preference information of users of a network-based transaction facility. In one embodiment, user interface information is communicated to a client via a communications network. The user interface information includes information concerning a plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility. The user interface also specifies a login interface that facilitates user input of login preference information pertaining to each of the plurality of features. Further, the login preference information is received from the client via the communications network and utilized to control user access to any of the plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility via the communications network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a network-based transaction facility;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a database maintained by a database engine server;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of a user information table within the database;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method for maintaining login preference information of users of a network-based transaction facility;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method for utilizing user login preference information within a network-based transaction facility;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an interface sequence implemented to maintain and utilize login preference information of users of a network-based transaction facility;

FIGS. 7-15 are exemplary representations of various interfaces included in the sequence of interfaces shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a computer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method and system for maintaining and utilizing login preference information of users of a network-based transaction facility are described. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

Terminology

For the purposes of the present specification, the term “transaction” shall be taken to include any communications between two or more entities and shall be construed to include, but not be limited to, commercial transactions including sale and purchase transactions, auctions and the like.

Transaction Facility

FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating an exemplary network-based transaction facility in the form of an Internet-based auction facility 10. While an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described within the context of an auction facility, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention will find application in many different types of computer-based, and network-based, commerce facilities.

The auction facility 10 includes one or more of a number of types of front-end servers, namely page servers 12 that deliver web pages (e.g., markup language documents), picture servers 14 that dynamically deliver images to be displayed within Web pages, listing servers 16, CGI servers 18 that provide an intelligent interface to the back-end of facility 10, and search servers 20 that handle search requests to the facility 10. E-mail servers 21 provide, inter alia, automated e-mail communications to users of the facility 10.

The back-end servers include a database engine server 22, a search index server 24 and a credit card database server 26, each of which maintains and facilitates access to a respective database.

The Internet-based auction facility 10 may be accessed by a client program 30, such as a browser (e.g., the Internet Explorer distributed by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash.) that executes on a client machine 32 and accesses the facility 10 via a network such as, for example, the Internet 34. Other examples of networks that a client may utilize to access the auction facility 10 include a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless network (e.g., a cellular network), or the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) network.

Database Structure

FIG. 2 is a database diagram illustrating an exemplary database 23, maintain by and accessed via the database engine server 22, which at least partially implements and supports the auction facility 10. The database 23 may, in one embodiment, be implemented as a relational database, and includes a number of tables having entries, or records, that are linked by indices and keys. In an alternative embodiment, the database 23 may be implemented as collection of objects in an object-oriented database.

Central to the database 23 is a user table 40, which contains a record for each user of the auction facility 10. A user may operate as a seller, buyer, or both, within the auction facility 10. A user information table 41 is linked to the user table 40 and includes more detailed information about each user. The database 23 also includes item tables 42 that may be linked to the user table 40. Specifically, the tables 42 include a seller items table 44 and a bidder items table 46. A user record in the user table 40 may be linked to multiple items that are being, or have been, auctioned via the facility 10. A link indicates whether the user is a seller or a bidder (or buyer) with respect to items for which records exist within the item tables 42. The database 23 also includes a note table 48 populated with note records that may be linked to one or more item records within the item tables 42 and/or to one or more user records within the user table 40. Each note record within the table 48 may include, inter alia, a comment, description, history or other information pertaining to an item being auction via the auction facility 10, or to a user of the auction facility 10.

A number of other tables are also shown to be linked to the user table 40, namely a user past aliases table 50, a feedback table 52, a feedback details table 53, a bids table 54, an accounts table 56, an account balances table 58 and a transaction record table 60.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the user information table 41. The user information table 41 stores detailed information about each user participating in the action facility 10. The table 41 includes a user identifier column 72 that stores, for each entry, a user identifier providing a pointer to the user table 40. A name column 74 stores the full name of each user. A gender column 76 stores the gender of each user. An e-mail address column 78 stores each user's e-mail address. A password preferences column 80 stores user login preference information that pertains to a plurality of features offered by a network-based transaction facility (e.g., auction facility 10).

It will be appreciated that other descriptive information may also populate the user information table 41.

Maintaining Login Preference Information

In order to facilitate the convenience and efficiency of users conducting business transactions within a network-based transaction facility such as auction facility 10, the present invention proposes a method and system whereby a user may provide his or her login preference information pertaining to any of a plurality of features offered by the network-based transaction facility. This login preference information is stored in a database (e.g., database 23) and utilized when a determination is made as to whether to require the user to enter his or her user identifier (user id) and password for accessing a feature within the network-based transaction facility.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of one embodiment of method 400 for maintaining login preference information of users of a network-based transaction facility. Method 400 begins with communicating user interface information to a client via a communications network (processing block 404). The user interface information includes information concerning a plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility. For instance, the plurality of features within network-based auction facility 10 may include such features as bidding, listing, feedback, chatting, etc. The user interface information also specifies a login interface that facilitates user input of login preference information pertaining to the features offered by the network-based transaction facility. In one embodiment, the login preference information indicates whether a user password should be remembered for each of these features. In one embodiment, these features do not include the features that involve display of user personal information. For instance, the user will be always required to enter a password for any feature that may display the credit card information or registration information of the user.

At processing block 406, the login preference information is received from the client via the communications network (e.g., via Internet). In one embodiment, the login preference information is stored in a database (e.g., in table 41 of database 23). Further, at processing block 410, the login preference information is utilized when providing user access to one of the features offered by the network-based transaction facility. One embodiment for utilizing the login preference information is described in greater detail below in conjunction with FIG. 5.

In one embodiment, the user is presented with an interface that allows the user to change the login preference information. In this embodiment, the database is updated each time the user changes the login preference information.

In one embodiment, when the user logs on into the transaction facility, a determination is made as to whether the user has previously provided the login preference information. If the determination is positive, a welcome user interface is presented to the user. The welcome user interface includes information indicating that the user has previously provided the login preference information and contains a link to a login preference interface, which allows the user to modify the existing login preference information.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method 500 for utilizing user login preference information within a network-based transaction facility. Method 500 begins with initiating a user session (processing block 504). The user session is typically initiated when the user logs into the network-based transaction facility by providing his or her logon information (e.g., user id and password). Next, user login preference information is retrieved from a database (processing block 506) and stored in a session cookie (processing block 508). The session cookie may also store other information such as, for example, client's IP address, cookie ID, user ID, etc. In one embodiment, the information stored in the session cookie is encrypted. In one embodiment, the session cookie expires in a predefined time period (e.g., 20 minutes) if the user conducts no activity within the network-based transaction facility or if the user logs cut (e.g., via the regular logout procedure or by closing the browser).

Subsequently, during the session, the user submits a request to access a particular feature within the network-based transaction facility (e.g., by activating a link or a button). Upon receiving the user request (processing block 510), a determination is made as to whether the requested feature always requires a password (decision box 512). In one embodiment, the password is always required for a feature involving display of user personal information such as, for example, the credit card information or registration information of the user. If the requested feature always requires a password, the user password is requested (processing block 514) and, upon receiving the correct password, access to the requested feature is provided (processing block 520).

Otherwise, if the requested feature is not designated as always requiring a password, login preference information pertaining to the requested feature is retrieved from the session cookie (processing block 514). Next, a determination is made as to whether the user has selected to require a password for this feature using the login preference information (processing block 516). If a password is required, the user is requested to enter a password (processing block 518), and if the entered password is correct, the access to the feature is provided (processing block 520). If the login preference information indicates that the password is not required, method 500 flows directly to processing block 520, which provides user access to the requested feature.

User Interfaces

FIG. 6 shows an interface sequence 700, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, that may be implemented by auction facility 10 to maintain and utilize login preference information of users. Exemplary representations of the various interfaces included within sequence 700 are shown in FIGS. 7-15.

Interface sequence 700 commences with a login interface 708 through which a user of auction facility 10 provides at least a user identifier and associated password. Login interface 708 may be accessed via a number of interfaces communicating information pertaining to various features offered by auction facility 10 (e.g., bidding interface 702 or history and email request interface 704), each of which comprises a markup language document (e.g., HTML document) including a hypertext link to an object that generates login interface 708 as well as further interfaces of sequence 700. In one embodiment, login interface 708 also allows a user to request not to use a cookie during his or her online activity within auction facility 10.

If the user logs on into auction facility 10 via login interface 708 for the first time, the user is presented with setup preferences interface 710 which specifies various features offered by auction facility 10 and facilitates user input of login preference information pertaining to each of these features. That is, the user may indicate via setup preferences interface 710 whether the user wants to have his or her password remembered for each feature. After the user preferences are set, preferences confirmation interface 712 is displayed to inform the user that the preference settings have been saved and that the user may modify them upon accessing my preferences interface 716.

If the user logs on into auction facility 10 via login interface 708 not for the first time (i.e., the user has previously provided user login preference information), welcome interface 714 is displayed that welcomes the user by name and includes a link to my preferences interface 716. My preferences interface 716 displays existing user login preferences, i.e., identifies the features of auction facility 10 for which the user wishes to have the user password remembered, and allows the user to modify the existing preferences. Preferences confirmation interface 712 confirms that the user settings have been saved.

Further, when the user wishes to access a feature within auction facility 10, the user may or may not be required to enter a password depending on the user login preferences. For instance, if the user selected to have his or her password remembered for a bidding feature, bidding interface 720 is provided without requiring the user to enter the password. If the user chose not to have the password remembered for the bidding feature, the user is requested to enter the password before accessing bidding interface 720. In addition, bidding interface 720 includes a link to my preferences interface 716 to allow the user to modify the login preferences.

If the user wishes to view history or email address of another user, the user may be required to enter the password via history and email request interface 722 or, alternatively, directly receive the requested information depending on the user setting for this feature.

It should be noted that interfaces of other features may be included within sequence 700 instead of, or in addition to, any of bidding interface 720 and history and email request interface 722 depending on what features the user wishes to access during his or her online activity within auction facility 10.

FIGS. 7-15 are exemplary representations of various interfaces included in sequence 700. FIGS. 7 and 15 are exemplary representations of a bidding interface. Bidding interface 702 of FIG. 7 is displayed to a user who has not previously set his or her login preferences. Bidding interface 702 includes button 802 allowing the user to set the login preferences via login interface 708. Bidding interface 720 of FIG. 14 is displayed to a user who has already set the login preferences in a previous session. Bidding interface 720 provides link 1502 to my preferences interface 716 allowing the user to modify the existing login preferences.

FIGS. 8 and 15 are exemplary representations of a history and email request interface. History and email request interface 704 of FIG. 8 is displayed to a user who has not previously set his or her login preferences and includes button 902 allowing the user to set the login preferences via login interface 708. History and email request interface 722 of FIG. 15 is displayed to a user who has previously selected not to have a user password remembered for this feature and includes link 1606 to my preferences interface 712 allowing the user to modify the existing login preferences.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary representation of login interface 708. Login interface 708 provides user identifier field 1002 and password field 1004 into which the user may enter a user identifier and password. In addition, the user may request not to use a cookie during the user online activity within auction facility 10 using link 1006.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary representation of setup preferences interface 710 which specifies various features offered within auction facility 10, namely selling, chat, my page, bidding, feedback, and other features. Check boxes 1102, 1104, 1106, 1108, 1110 and 1112 allow the user to set his or her preference for each of these features. That is, if the user checks any of these check boxes, the user will not be required to provide a password before accessing a corresponding feature. Note 1114 indicates that the user may change his or her preferences at any time using my preferences interface 716.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary representation of preferences confirmation interface 712 which notifies the user that the user login preference information has been saved.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary representation of welcome interface 714 which is displayed if the user has already provided the login preference information in a previous session. Welcome interface 714 includes link 1302 to my preferences interface 716 which allows the user to change the existing login preferences.

FIG. 13 is an exemplary representation of my preferences interface 716. My preferences interface 716 specifies user preferences for various features such as selling, chat, my page, bidding, feedback, and others. The user may change any of the existing preferences via check boxes 1102, 1104, 1106, 1108, 1110 and 1112.

In summary, it will be appreciated that the above described interfaces, and underlying technologies, provide a convenient vehicle for the inputting and modifying of user login preferences pertaining to various features offered by auction facility 10.

Computer Architecture

FIG. 16 shows a diagrammatic representation of machine in the exemplary form of a computer system 1700 within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one of the methodologies discussed above, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machine may comprise a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance or any machine capable of executing a sequence of instructions that specify actions to be taken by that machine.

The computer system 1700 includes a processor 1702, a main memory 1704 and a static memory 1706, which communicate with each other via a bus 1708. The computer system 1700 may further include a video display unit 1710 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 1700 also includes an alpha-numeric input device 1712 (e.g. a keyboard), a cursor control device 1714 (e.g. a mouse), a disk drive unit 1716, a signal generation device 1720 (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device 1722.

The disk drive unit 1716 includes a computer-readable medium 1724 on which is stored a set of instructions (i.e., software) 1726 embodying any one, or all, of the methodologies described above. The software 1726 is also shown to reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 1704 and/or within the processor 1702. The software 1726 may further be transmitted or received via the network interface device 1722. For the purposes of this specification, the term “computer-readable medium” shall be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing or encoding a sequence of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one of the methodologies of the present invention. The term “computer-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to included, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic disks, and carrier wave signals.

Thus, a method and system for maintaining login preference information of users of a network-based transaction facility have been described. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 

1. A method for maintaining login preference information of users of a network-based transaction facility, the method comprising: communicating user interface information to a client via a communications network, the user interface information including information concerning a plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility and specifying a login interface facilitating user input of login preference information pertaining to each of the plurality of features, and wherein the login preference information is specific to a user to which it relates and is customized by that user; receiving the login preference information from the client via the communications network, and wherein the login preference information is housed in a database for subsequent retrieval and use; and utilizing the login preference information to selectively activate a number of the plurality of features, which are identified in the login preference information for the user, within the network-based transaction facility, associated with commerce and online auctioning, via the communications network, and wherein activation for the number of the plurality of features is enforced with subsequent login sessions initiated by the user by utilizing the login preference information, after the user provides login information, which is separate from the login preference information and which identifies the user, in order to initiate the subsequent login sessions, and wherein for each login session a browser session cookie is set with the login preference information retrieved from the database and when the session cookie expires a particular login session with the user is terminated and the session cookie removed, and wherein the features include options defined by the user associated with bidding, listing items for sale, feedback on transactions with other users, chatting with a number of the other users, history of transactions, and email communications, and wherein each feature identified in the login preference information includes an option to allow the user to determine whether a user password is to be used to access that particular feature each time a user attempts to access that particular feature during an active login session, and wherein when the login preference information indicates a preference by the user to exclude the use of the session cookie for each login session the preference information is retrieved from the database.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the login preference information indicates whether the user password should be remembered for each of the plurality of features.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: initiating a particular login session upon receiving the user login information; retrieving the login preference information from the database using the user login information; receiving a user request to access a selected feature of the plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility; and utilizing the login preference information in the session cookie when determining whether to require the user to enter user access information before providing user access to the selected feature.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the login preference information is encrypted within the session cookie.
 5. The method of claim 3 further comprising: receiving a user request not to use the session cookie during user online activity within the network-based transaction facility; and retrieving the login preference information from the database when determining whether to require the user to enter the user login information before providing user access to a selected feature of the plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising: presenting a user interface allowing the user to change the login preference information; and updating the login preference information in the database.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving the user login information; determining that the user has previously provided the login preference information; and presenting a welcome user interface including user interface information indicating that the user has previously provided the login preference information.
 8. The method of claim 1 including always requiring the user password for any feature involving display of user personal information.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the user personal information includes any one of a group comprising credit card information and registration information.
 10. A method to control access to a network-based transaction facility, the method including: identifying a user associated with a network session that logs into the network-based transaction facility, associated with commerce and online auctioning, by using user login information, which is separate from user access preferences and determining whether access preferences permit setting a session cookie to house the access preferences for the user during the network session and when permitted removing the cookie when the network session expires; identifying the access preferences associated with the user, the access preferences indicating selective access requirements to each of a plurality of features provided by the network-based transaction facility, wherein the access preferences identify each of the plurality of features and are customized for the user and the user's interaction with the network-based transaction facility, and wherein the features include options defined by the user associated with bidding, listing items for sale, feedback on transactions with other users, chatting with a number of the other users, history of transactions, and email communications, and wherein each access preference includes an option that the user can activate to have the user input a password each time a particular feature is accessed during the network session; and controlling access to each of the plurality of features in accordance with the stored access preferences.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the controlling comprises implementing different access restrictions to respective features of the plurality of features according to the access preferences.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the controlling requires selectively requiring user identity verification information as a portion of the user login information to access a first feature of the plurality of features in accordance with the access preferences.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the user identity verification information comprises the password.
 14. The method of claim 10 including communicating a request to the user to determine a set of access preferences pertaining to the plurality of features, and storing a response to the request as the access preferences.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the request comprises a user interface via which the user composes the response.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the user interface comprises a markup language document.
 17. A system for maintaining login preference information of users of a network-based transaction facility, the system comprising: a display function to communicate user interface information to a client via a communications network, the user interface information including information concerning a plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility, associated with commerce and online auctioning, and specifying a login interface facilitating user input of login preference information selectively pertaining to a number of the plurality of features after a user has logged into the network-based transaction facility via the login interface with login information, which is separate from the login preference information, and the login preference information selectively identifies the number of the plurality of features to activate for the user, and wherein the login preference information is retrieved from a database and stored in a session cookie when the user permits and used during an active session with the user and removed when a session expires; a receive function to initially receive the login preference information from the client via the communications network; and an access function to utilize the login preference information for selectively controlling user access to the number of the plurality of features identified by the login preference information within the network-based transaction facility via the communications network, and wherein the number of the plurality of features are customized to the user via the login preference information, and wherein the features include options defined by the user associated with bidding, listing items for sale, feedback on transactions with other users, chatting with a number of the other users, history of transactions, and email communications, and wherein each feature includes an option in the login preference information that the user can set that makes the user supply a user password before access to that particular feature is permitted during an active session.
 18. A system to control access to a network-based transaction facility, the system including: a user identification function to identify a user associated with a network session that logs into the network-based transaction facility, associated with commerce and online auctioning, the user identification function utilizes user login information, which is separate from user access preferences; a receive function to identify the access preferences customized for the user after the user is identified, the access preferences identifying selective access requirements to a number of a plurality of features provided by the network-based transaction facility, and wherein the access preferences are stored and subsequently retrieved from a session cookie when permitted by the user during the network session and the session cookie removed when the network session terminates; and an access function to control access to the number of the plurality of features in accordance with what is identified in the access preferences for the identified user, and wherein the features include options defined by the user associated with bidding, listing items for sale, feedback on transactions with other users, chatting with a number of the other users, history of transactions, and email communications, and wherein each feature includes an option in the access preferences that can be set by the user that makes the user supply a user password when activating that particular feature.
 19. A system for maintaining login preference information of users of a network-based transaction facility, the system comprising: a first means for communicating user interface information to a client via a communications network, the user interface information including information concerning a plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility, associated with commerce and online auctioning, and specifying a login interface facilitating user input of login preference information selectively pertaining to a number of the plurality of features; a second means for initially receiving the login preference information from the client via the communications network; and a third means for utilizing the login preference information to selectively activate the number of the plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility via the communications network, wherein activation is enforced for subsequent login sessions into the network-based transaction facility by using the login preference information, after the user provides login information and after the user is identified, wherein the login information is separate from the login preference information, the login information is used to initiate the subsequent login sessions and the login preference information is used to drive the number of the plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility that are customized and made available to the user for the subsequent login sessions, and wherein the features include options defined by the user associated with bidding, listing items for sale, feedback on transactions with other users, chatting with a number of the other users, history of transactions, and email communications, and wherein each feature includes an option in the login preference information that can be set by the user and that makes the user supply a user password before activating that particular feature, and wherein the login preference information is stored in a database and retrieved and populated to a session cookie for each login session when the user permits and the session cookie is removed each time one of the login sessions terminate.
 20. A system to control access to a network-based transaction facility, the system including: a first means for identifying a user associated with a network session that logs into the network-based transaction facility, associated with commerce and online auctioning, with user login information, which is separate from user access preferences; a second means for identifying the access preferences associated with the user, the access preferences selectively indicating access requirements to a number of a plurality of features provided by the network-based transaction facility, the access preferences retrieved from a database and stored in a session cookie for retrieval and access during the network session and the session cookie removed when the session terminates; and a third means for selectively controlling access to the number of the plurality of features in response to what is identified within the access preferences for the user, wherein the number of the plurality of features are customized for the user, and wherein the features include options defined by the user associated with bidding, listing items for sale, feedback on transactions with other users, chatting with a number of the other users, history of transactions, and email communications, and wherein each feature includes an option in the access preferences that the users can set and that makes the user supply a user password before access to that particular feature is granted during the network session. 